Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-10-05
4 CREOLE MAIDEN.
SHE IS BORN INTO AN ATMOSPHERE
OF CONSERVATISM.

Girihood In the Sacred Precincts Of the
Family Circie-Strict Rules OF Eth
qnette-Lo.e of Music and Dancing.
on to school.
A favored few, during the My Or
leans exposition, caught a glimpse of the
creol. girl and Were surprised TO find hel
not the indoent. selfish creature of undis
ciplined mind and temper thai she has
been SO often pictured. They 5; W enough
to convince them that she had been un-
justly represented, Yet not enough Of her
domestic life, which the creole guards
jealousy against intrusion. To be able To
correctly decide what special influences
had made her so unlike her American
sisters. II. however, one is Intimately
enough acquainted with the creoles Ia
gain admission into their family circle, he
will not be long in fixing upon these de-
termining forces The creole girl is born
into an atmosphere of conservatism. From
the beginning il is her very breath of life.
Not only custom, but the accumulated
force of heredity. combine 10 make her live
up To her ancestors. From the cradle she
is accustomed not only I" affection. hut
to its demonstrations. All her family
and all their friends are not content 10
love one another in a careless, never-tell-
you -about-it fashion, but with protesta-
tions, with enthusiastic disclosures OF
heart with kisses frequent and warm.
The little maid could hardly be Of cold
Gemeanor in this air Of demonstrative
affection, which, according to the Hin
docs, should never be wanting in the
mansions Of the good
When she is old enough to come into
the parlor she greets her mammals guests
with ease, and il is with angelic con-
fidence that she puts up her cheek to be
kissed. The tact which is hers by inherit
ance is already apparent. and not from
creole children come the accessions 10 the
ranks of les enfants terribles. The mother
encourages what mothers of northern
races deem frivolities Understanding
the value Of ease Of manner, gracefulness
OF motion and the numberless prettinesseS
which come only by long practice, she
very soon allows her southful daughter
to take part in gay little dances, harmless
receptions, where little folk must act with
the propriety Of the greater. These
gatherings entail no Sne dressing. no
costly refreshments Ol late hours, which
are the characteristics OF the modern
child's party.
AVOIDING IMPRoPRIETIEs.
The little girl is early taught TO avoid
improprieties OF speech and manner. The
effect of mammals oft iterated VA douce-
ment fillette," shows itself even in her
play. for she indulges in none Of that wild
romping which is SO often a distinguish
ing feature in the sports Of others Of her
age and condition. The creole girl is
merry and vivacious, but she will never
defy the rules Of etiquette or her mother S
frowns She is her mothers constant
companion, and her father, too, courts the
society and confidence of his little daUgh-
ter, and the bond between them is more
intimate, more sacred, than is usual be-
tween American fathers and daughters.
Even after marriage she keeps up this
sweet intimacy and her father is sure 10
he rs interested and sympathetic listener
to her recounted trials and joys of house
keeping and motherhood rs is her mother.
There never was a creole girl who could
not dance Her feet beat time naturally
to the unison of waltz music as soon as
she can walk. When about s years old
she is sent to school, usually one kept by
some reduced gentlewoman, where,
! though the text books have not been
changed fo.' Years, and the demands for
higher education are unknown, the youth
! full pupil is carefully grounded in elemen'
| tary rules. She studies French and learns
facile use of English. and she is likely tC
learn Spanish or perhaps German. 1t is
NO uncommon thing for our little creole tc
speak well three or four languages. Ir
her going and coming from school sht
must he accompanied by servant oI
some grown person. This is an inexorablt
| rule of all creole schools, the mistress
/ feeling personal responsibility for hel
pupils from the time they leave home
until they again set foot within it. Amer
| lean children must also conform to thi.
/ rule, else they will not he received.
GRABBED IN SONG.
The little creole takes naturally 4
! music. for she has been Graded in song
1t is mothers milk To her; her earliest lul
iabies have been operate airs. She daily
hears discussions rs to the relative merit:
and beauty of this opera and that, of tn,
eXcellencies and deficiencies of the singers
Her parents attend the opera at least onc'
q week. and oftener when possible. even i
the entailed expense must mean very plaiI
living. No musical heresies ever meet he
ears. Wagnerian music is tabooed, bu
French and Italian opera, ''Oh. ciel, com
me ellie est ravissante" She imbibeS th
good natured contempt of her people 70
the American stage, but she frequentl,
accompanies her parents 10 theiT own be
loved French theatre.
BY easy steps the little maid has resche,
the age when She must make her frs
communion. Never until her marriag
morn will she be the center Of as mucl
interest and loving attention a. upon thi
day. II is fete which after the solern'
religious ceremonial is celebrated will
feasting, while gifts are bestowed upol
the young girl by all of her family con
nectons. II is now time for her To go L
the convent to finish her education. Sh
may attend as weekly boarder any on
of the numerous converts within the city
she may, notwithstanding tears and IT
monstrances, be forced 10 submit 10 tn
rigorous discipline Of the Crsuline monas
tery. Within those walls she can hold IL
communication with the world, save al
special days, when friends may visit her
Small consolation, for when they see he
a grim iron grating inierpOses itself be
tween her and her beloved Ones. All pres
ents of fruit and other daiuiies must b
impartislly divided between classmates
Within this cloister have been educated il
all probability her mother, Crandmothe
and great grandmother.-Har Bazar
Popular Error.
There : popular prejudice tat if III
stones of cherries are swallowed it Wi
obyiate the danger of intestinal disturb
ance which this fruit is liable to cause
Nothing could be more absurd than thi
theory. and the practice is a most pei
nicious one, as 1t invites serious inflan
g g..